Sapphire Ambassadors

Asano was excited. Not so much by the thought of drinking alcohol as learning about it. She knew many in her Family took a vow to never drink, like many more spiritual people in the Empire, but Asano had definitely been on the side of things that Enlightenment came from knowing the world. Not avoiding it.

So it was that she'd arrived early to the meeting place with Chodai, the bright blue clad woman sitting cross-legged on one of the low stools, folding and unfolding her fan every once in a while.

Choudai's day had been long, emotionally taxing, and tomorrow promised more of the same.

So he could certainly use a drink. Or six..

He spotted the Asahina and put on his best cheerful demeanor, even as he also made sure to spot the shader elements present to keep a fix on them.

"Good evening Asahina-san... have you been waiting long?"

Asano looked up with a soft smile, shaking her head, "Only a small while. I have been drinking this delightful peach nectar while I wait."

The Crane woman lifted what appeared to be an actual porcelain shot glass of peach juice, likely normally used to mix in with other things.

"Please, have a seat and relax a bit. I'm in no particular rush."

"Ah, but I am, Asahina-san!"

He signaled the barkeep by pointing to a bottle of midrange but acceptable sake.

"I believe you wanted a guide to the vagaries of sake? This bottle on its way is the sort of thing you drink when you want to dull your mind after a bit of... turmoil, but your taste buds simply won't accept anything too crude."

He glanced at her peach juice, and smiled.

"An unorthodox choice, but probably better than the one I just made."

"I did not wish to get started without you, Bayushi-sama."

She looks at the sake the bartender brings over, then back to Chodai.

"Are you in a hurry because you are thirsty then, or because there is a lot to cover?"

"Asahina-san is most courteous."

He poured a small cup for her, then a taller one for himself.

"I am in a hurry due to... less thirst as such than medicinally. Now, that said, this blend isn't particularly harsh- and you have the peach juice to follow with if it disagrees with you."

He raised the cup, swirled it around, gave it a look.

"A proper aficionado would talk about the brewery, where the rice was harvested, the fermentation process... I will simply suggest you take a Sip, and see how it treats you."

Then he knocked his own sake back in one gulp.

Asano did not sip yet, looking down at the cup curiously.

"...what do you mean by 'harsh', Bayushi-sama? Do you mean it will not get me very drunk?"

Having not had alcohol before besides plum wine, Asano wasn't very familiar with the alcohol 'burn', not to mention the fact some sake could have more alcohol than others.

"Ah, well..."

He looked into his own empty cup.

"Some drinks pack more of an alcoholic kick than others. This one is fairly mellow, and shouldn't be too... punishing."

A pause.

"But it will absolutely get you drunk if you consume enough swiftly enough. Be careful, if you're new to it and don't know yourimits, just pace yourself."

"Hm? Mmmm... pace myself. I understand."

Asano took a sip of the sake and her face momentarily screwed up into quite the sour expression, something she rectified quickly. The Asahina woman gave a small cough, putting her mouth behind her sleeve.

"M-Mild? It... I hate to think what something less mild might taste like. This is like drinking liquid fire..."

"Oi! Barkeep! A small measure of liquid fire please!"

He tilted his masked face toward her.

"Since you brought it up."

Asano blanched, her face almost the same color as her hair.

"Th-That's an actual thing? And... people drink it?"

"Oh yes. Generally people for whom taste is far less important than making the pain of being alive a little duller for a few hours. Horrible stuff."

He looked at the small clay bottle that arrived, and nodded in approval.

"No brewery willing to put its name on this, the blend is almost immaterial, and heaven help you if you try to pick out notes of flavored nuance."

He tucked the bottle into his obi.

"Good for cleaning cutlery, though."

"Oh... It works that way? You drink this stuff and you feel better about your life? ...I suppose that explains why that man the other day seemed annoyed when I sobered him up..."

"You don't feel better."

He looked into his cup.

"You just manage to not care for a bit. I've heard it called a temporary solution to problems. but even that overstates the case."

He chuckled and shook his head.

"And yes, those who habitually numb themselves can be a bit cranky when they're pulled out of it and realize they and their world are no better than they were when they began."

"Oh... so it avoids the problem a bit."

She looked down at her cup.

"And hopefully forget this taste..."

Looking up at Choudai again, Asano took another small sip so as to not waste it, "I don't suppose my tongue is just broken, is it?"

"Not at all, Asahina-san. It just means you don't care for alcohol. Nothing wrong with that, it's a snare and trap."

He poured himself another cup of the stuff and knocked it back.

"The worst part is, if you drink enough of it, you get to like it..."

"...just being able to stand it would be enough, I think. I hear there are some courts where not drinking might be seen as impolite. Like the Winding River at the imperial Court. Or Crab lands."

"The Winding River requires only a single drink be completed. As for the Crab..."

He chuckled.

"With all due respect to both you and them, Ashahina-san, I think you would find more than the sake a rough go if you stayed among the Crab for any length of time."

"Oh? I was always told they take very good care of their guests and keep them very safe and well looked after, Bayushi-sama. Surely I can't have heard that wrong multiple times."

"Oh, the safety is commendable, and they treat their guests as well if not better than they treat their own. But given your apparent distaste for sake, you might find the hospitality a bit much."